Hardly Working.

This week has been such a blessing. They guys got some much needed rest after being at camp last week. Allow me to fill you in.
Sunday: My Sunday school class went really well. I had four middle school kids who were all well behaved and ready to listen and learn. I enjoyed getting to know them and sharing God's word. Church was different in that it was a sort of VBS follow up and the kids did all of their songs. I was SUPER excited (not) to hear all of those songs again. I did however have to restrain myself from doing the motions in my seat. We (the boys) dropped off the girls at camp for the week and enjoyed a relaxing evening filled with laundry and food.
Monday: We (still the boys) got up sort of early and made the arduous journey back to Anchorage. We met the pastor of Muldoon Road Baptist Church (where we have been working) and got to fellowship with him for a while. He told us that we really did not have much work to do here, which was great to hear. We helped him empty and clean out a shed on the chruch property later that afternoon. It was filled with old furniture and stuff that was beyond using. We took it to the dump and had a good time throwing it around.
Tuesday: One of the best days of my entire life. The pastor drove us down to the Kenai river to go salmon fishing. Please look at facebook pictures for visual detail. It was nothing short of incredible. We had waders on and stood out about thigh deep in the river to fish. I actually caught on pretty quickly. We were each allowed to catch 6 fish and all limited out. We then gutted and cleaned all of the fish by the river and filleted them back at the church. I was pretty proud of myself.
Wednesday: We finished up our work for Pastor Fred around the church. Mason and Gentry did some minimal painting and I typed up a list of contact information from the kids that attended VBS.
Thursday: Pastor Fred had to deal with some family stuff (I don't really want to say, but please pray for his family) so we had the day completely free. It was so wonderful not to have to set an alarm and just to be able to relax. We cooked some of our salmon and it was delicious.
Friday: We (the boys) drove back up to Wasilla and picked up the girls from camp. We were once again excited to all be back together. We then had a game night for the youth at FBC Palmer (where the girls and Gentry had done VBS the week before). It went quite well and I enjoyed it a lot.
Saturday: We got up and put on a block party for FBC Wasilla out at their new property. It was sort of frustrating because everyone thought they new how things were supposed to be run and had no problem telling us so. As the trailer experts with countless trials and errors, we are kind of experts in all things block party trailer. Regardless, it was a smashing success and we gave away about 400 snow cones. We (all 5 of us) then drove back to Anchorage that night
Sunday: Today we got up and went to church here at Muldoon Road BC where we are staying. I really enjoyed the service even though Mason, Gentry, and I butcher the doxology on stage. Oh well. It was a joyful noise. Not much more than a noise, but joyfull nonetheless. We had a nice lunch and are now just chilling waiting for evening service tonight.

Alltogether it was a great week. Next week we were supposed to have 3 day off, but those were taken away from us without our consent. This is ok, becuase we are working with Mike Blakeney, but at the same time they were really our only free time for the rest of the summer. Oh well. Hopefully things will work out. On Wednesday, we are traveling back to the Valley to work with a church this weekend which should be good.
On a happier note, our week in Talkeetna got cancelled. While this may seem sad at first (and is to everyone on our team but me) it means that we will possibly be in Anchorage/Kenai while the Kolb's are here!! I am super excited and am praying that we are able to get together.

I hope that everyone is doing well. I changed a couple of setting on here that should allow it to be easier to comment, so please keep trying. I love feedback.

Kev

Midnight Sun.

Here I sit back in the Welcome Center of the First Baptist Church Palmer after an exhausting week followed by and even more exhausting past 24 hours.
Camp ended up being awesome, but really challenging. There was some drama with some of the other people that were there working and some of the speaking and gospel presentation was pretty sensationalized, but I feel that God, in all sovereignty, used it for good. We had a total of 8 boys who came to know Christ one of whom was in my cabin! It was super exciting.
So we finished up on Friday, Gentry had come and spent Thursday night with us, and headed out after lunch. We immediately went and picked up the girls and then headed to Anchorage. We met Meghan and Charlie at Brenda's house and then left for Keni and College Heights Baptist Church. We spent the night at the church (they had a Wii and projection system. Mario Cart. It happened.) Then we got up early this morning and helped them with an intrachurch king salmon derby. We moved their trucks and boat traliers to the end of the river at the pull out point and also provided lunch about half way down the river. It was pretty cool. I also did really well driving the trailer and even backed it up pretty successfully. I was proud.
Then we packed everything up, drove back to Anchorage, picked up our truck, and drove out to the valley. We had a small sushi dinner (followed by DQ) and are now at 1st Baptist Palmer for church tomorrow. Gentry and I are each teaching a sunday school class in the morning ( him high school me middle school) and then staying here tomorrow night. We are leaving for Anchorage on Monday morning and will spend the next two weeks there. I am not sure what we are doing.
The mountains seem to gain beauty every time I look at them. As Meghan said today, there is just something Godly about this place that just screams His presence, majesty, and soverignty. I still haven't gotten used to it being completely light at midnight, but at the same time, there isn't anything quite like it.

Red.

Camp. which I guess for me was always Kamp. But regardless I can remember what and impact it had on me and my walk with God. I pray that I will be able to show these boys what it means to walk with Christ and what an impact it can have on their lives.
Tonight is the first night of boys camp at LaVerne Griffin Youth Recreation Camp out here in beautiful Wasilla Alaska. The theme of the week is bible boot camp so everyone is wearing camo and yelling alot. It is pretty awesome. I have four boys in my cabin who are all from Grandview Baptist Chruch in Anchorage which is where we did our first VBS. My assistant counselor is Mike who is their youth minister and who i stayed with for the week i was at Grandview. Awesome how God works things out like that. We are Moses's Warriors in the Red Platoon Squad 2. I ask that you would be in prayer for these boys and ask that God would open their hearts to receive his word. The camp is beautiful and has really nice facilities.
There are two teams here that are working with us. One from Georgia and one from Tennessee. The Georgia people are from Tocoa. The camp managers here are also originally from Georgia. I swear it is like I never left the South.
In addition to being a cabin counselor I am teaching a class in the morning, leading a free time activity, leading another activity with compasses and maps, and helping with worship/tech. It is really awesome that I have been given some actual responsibility, but at the same time sleep seems to be a thing of the past. Speaking of sleep, the days continue to get longer and longer.
I really miss the other guys on our team that are working VBS at First Baptist Chruch Palmer. It is just me and Mason here at camp and Gentry and the girls are at the church. We have only known each other for 2 weeks and yet we are already a family. Praise God!!
I would also ask for prayer for our friend Chris (11 years old). We stayed with his family last week and really bonded with him. He comes from a not great situation and is at camp this week. I pray that it would really solidify his faith. Hope every one is well and enjoying the darkness.
Much love,
Kev

Here and Now

This weekend we are staying at the First Baptist Church Palmer. The pastor is from south Georgia and pastored in Gainsville for many years. Kinda neat.

Gentry, Elizabeth, and Jessica will be working their VBS this week while Mason and I go out to Laverne Griffin Youth Camp next week to help with Boys Camp (elementary boys)

Today we were in the local "Colony Days" Parade and then set up our bounce houses at the festival afterwords to advertise for VBS. It was actually quite fun.
It has been really nice staying at the church. We have the van to drive and actually feel independent for once.
I am really looking forward to boys camp and pray that God would really use me.
Mason, Gentry and I are singing in church tomorrow (Pioneer Baptist where we worked last week) so hopefully that will go well. I am also teaching a Sunday School class next week possibly. Awesome.
Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad tomorrow. Sorry I can't be there.
May I just beg everyone not to take darkness for granted. Last night we got home at about 12:45 and could still see plenty well to rehook the trailer to the van. It was barely what I would consider dusk. Incredible.

2 Checks...

I have accomplished two more big things on my to-do list of Alaska.
Yesterday we woke up fairly early and went to organize the block party trailer. We finished rather quickly and Gary and Shirley decided to take us sight seeing. We drove north from Wasilla towards Willow.
The first thing was that were able to see Mt. McKinley. (Everyone here calls it Denali because President McKinley never even set foot in Alaska. We came up over this hill and there it was towering over the horizon. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. We couldn't really take pictures because there were cars and it was too hazy to see it very clearly. It was amazing nonetheless.
We continued and went to an area called Nancy Lake. We drove around for a while and got out to walk down to one of the lakes. If you have never experienced the ferocity of Alaskan mosquitoes then praise be to God. They are crazy huge and nearly invincible. Everyone was quite perturbed. Then we were driving out and on the side of the road was a Mama black bear with three cubs. It was amazing. We just sat there and took tons of pictures. Please see facebook for more.
So I have now see and bear and seen Denali.
Other things to do in Alaska
1. See the Northern lights. (I won't get to. They are only visible in the winter)
2. Go snow machining. (also not possible)
3. Go to the Arctic
4. see a grizzly bear
5. experience sub zero temperatures.

Clearly i just need to come back during the winter...

Whirlwind.

It seems that there is just so much to update. I may tackle this in a few chunks...

So VBS at Grandview Baptist Church last week went quite well I think. We were mostly just helpers, but were really able to spend some time with the kids. We also really got acquainted with the Boomerang Express theme and materials that we will be working with the rest of the summer. I particularly enjoyed doing the motions to the songs, but whatever. I really connected with a little boy named Simon who apparently misbehaves quite a bit. Hopefully I was able to impact him. Please keep him in your prayers. After VBS in the evenings we just hung out. The guy I was staying with took us around Anchorage which was cool and we also got to go to a cook out and eat some Halibut. It was amazing. Jessica and I also hung out with our Kodiak friends and they cooked us our halibut that we caught, which was also pretty cool.

Throughout the week the rest of our team arrived in Anchorage. Mason, Gentry, and Elizabeth. We have all hit it off quite well and are already becoming a family. God has truly answered a prayer.
Unfortunately the couple who were supposed to be our coordinators this summer had to return to Florida, but I think that situation has now been resolved.

Anyway, after VBS on friday Brenda and David took us on the most beautiful and epic hike of our lives. It is a trail called Crow Pass in Girdwood about 30 miles south of Anchorage. It is a 26 mile trail that goes all through the mountians, but we did the first 3.5 miles up to a ranger cabin. This part is the climb into the mountains and it is pretty flat from where we stopped. It climbs about 3000 feet in elevation and was incredibly steep!! It was also the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my entire life. Please check out facebook for pictures. We saw mountian sheep and amazing mountain scenery. When we finally made it to the top, the guys decided to free climb this small peak next to the trail. It was terrifying, but awsome. The slope was all loose shale that slid everywhere and then grass on the steep hillside. The view from the top was incredible. SO basically the coolest hike ever.

This past weekend we did two block parties. The first only had like 6 kids, but since it was our first time setting everything up, it was good practice. The second one was at Fairview Loop BC on Sunday. We went to church that morning where a missionary couple from Georgia spoke!! I got to visit with them after church. (Side note, the pastor at Fairview loops's dental hygenist is Sarah Palin's sister...) Then the block party was a smashing success! We are also pros at getting everything set up and broken down. We are working VBS at the site of the first block party, Pioneer Baptist Church in Wasilla, this week.
So far this VBS has been pretty good. The church is small so we only have about 15 kids, but it has been good. I am leading the music, teaching the kids motions and just making a fool out of myself.
On Monday (yesterday) we hiked another small mountain/hill called Bodenburg Butte. Only about 875 feet tall, it still provides a great view of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. You could see the Matanuska Glacier as well.
Today was pretty chill, we did some VBS prep and devotionals, but then Mr. Jim (one of they guys we are staying with) took us shooting. This has been something I have wanted to so since coming to Alaska and it did not disappoint. We did 3 different pistols. Some magnum something, my favorite. A PPK James Bond handgun, and an old western 6 shooter. He also had the twelve gauge shotgun. It was awesome.

I promise to try and update more often... things have just been super busy. Please continue to pray for the kids that are attending our VBS as well as that God would continue to work in our hearts to accomplish His will.

Kev